Half-Lifehttp://www.maximumpc.com/taxonomy/term/1009/
en5 Huge Game Conversions You Must Download Right Nowhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/5_huge_game_conversions_you_must_download_right_now-645
<!--paging_filter--><p>Trying to track down a list of “five game mods you must download right now” is a lot like trying to choose your five top games of all time. Sure, your list might be impressive—maybe even awesome—but you’re still going to get a heap of contenders sobbing in the corner at your refusal to acknowledge their almost-noteworthy existences. And nobody likes bawling boxed titles.</p>
<p>So let that be a warning to you, fun-loving gamer who continues to read this article. I’m covering freeware game modifications this time around—freeware, obviously, because I doubt your average enthusiast is going to risk the wrath of a developer’s fury because he or she is selling blood, sweat, and tears in the form of a $5 game add-on. As well, I’m not just looking at maps, or other whip-dip little tweaks. I’m talking about huge transformations that range from, “making this game playable in the modern era” to “wow, I want to go back and revisit this title because it is now sweet.”</p>
<p>I’m paraphrasing, of course. But you get the idea.</p>
<p>But as I mentioned, narrowing down to a list of five is near-impossible. So if you don’t have an affinity for the Infinity Engine (including Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment), Sins of a Solar Empire, Fallout 3, TIE Fighter/X-Wing Alliance, or Half-Life 2… you might want to sit this one out. Otherwise, let’s get real.</p>
<h2><a href="http://gamedrone.net/2010/09/29/installing-planescape-torment-with-fixes-and-mods/">Planescape:Torment</a> (et al.)</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_1120game1.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="260" /></p>
<p>I’m just going to focus on my all-time favorite game, Planescape: Torment, but know that other such tweaks (in the same spirit of those I’m about to mention) exist for other games based on Bioware’s Infinity Engine.</p>
<p>So, where were we? Yes. Planescape: Torment, one of the greatest video games of all time, is practically unplayable on modern gaming systems. If you have the old, disc-based version of the title, you’re pretty much out of luck. And even if you’ve grabbed the latest GoG-based version of the game/installer, you’ll be able to play Planescape… but you’ll hate the low-resolution experience you’ll be forced to endure on your souped-up gaming PC.</p>
<p>So, to fix that, a group of modders have released various tweaks that—for starters—build support for any and all monitor resolutions right into the title. Throw in a litany of tweaks, hacks, and unlocks for buried content within the game’s data files, and you have the makings of a perfect community drive to keep One Of The Greatest Games Ever Produced (capitalization intentional) alive in our hearts, minds, and astral dimensions.</p>
<p>Download them <a href="http://gamedrone.net/2010/09/29/installing-planescape-torment-with-fixes-and-mods/">here</a>!</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/related/do1fn/did_you_love_xwing_tie_fighter_andor_xwing/">TIE Fighter / X-Wing Alliance</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>No, I’m not covering two games at once—even though they’re technically the same games or, at least, the same spirit of games. It’s widely understood that Lucasarts’ TIE Fighter is one of the greatest games, if not <em>the</em> greatest game, ever created. It’s an excellent space combat title that puts you in the role of a lowly pilot for the Empire, working your way up through the ranks to harder and crazier missions including, yes, flying alongside Darth Vader himself. Cool, eh?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this title is old enough to make it damned near impossible to play on a modern system without some wacky kind of virtualization setup in place. And even then, you’re not really getting the best-in-class experience: Your default resolution will look downright ugly on your snazzy big monitor and the game’s graphics… well. They’re a bit dated.</p>
<p>So what do you do? Instead, use your TIE Fighter disc alongside your X-Wing Alliance disc (you did buy both, right?) to essentially perform a total conversation of X-Wing Alliance with TIE Fighter material. Using the newer game’s better engine, you’ll be able to play all your favorite old flights in updated, pretty-looking glory.</p>
<p>Download the various files and packs <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/related/do1fn/did_you_love_xwing_tie_fighter_andor_xwing/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Sins of a Solar Empire</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_1120game3.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="260" /></p>
<p>If flying around in space isn’t your thing, how about sending <em>other</em> ships around in space and letting your digital pilots sop up the mess that your larger orders create? That’s right. Sins of a Solar Empire is a real-time strategy title that’s a whole heap of fun to play. However, it’s even more fun if you take the requisite steps to geek out your game to maximum levels.</p>
<p>If you’re a Star Wars fan (who isn’t?), be sure to check out the total modification “<a href="http://sins.imperial.cc/show.cgi?id=sins&amp;a=view&amp;f=2&amp;t=1">Star Wars – Requium</a>,” which adds the Alliance and the Empire as playable races within your game. That includes a whole arsenal of new ships (no Death Star, sadly), new elements within the game’s research tree and, yes, even customized music.</p>
<p>But if you’re not a Star Wars fan, that’s ok too. You might want to then check out the conversion package called “<a href="http://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/371686">Star Trek: Sacrifice of Angels 2</a>.” It goes without saying what kinds of ships, races, and technologies you might experience in this one. Don’t forget about the Borg!</p>
<p>Download the Star Wars mod <a href="http://sins.imperial.cc/show.cgi?id=sins&amp;a=view&amp;f=2&amp;t=1">here</a>!</p>
<p>Download the Star Trek mod <a href="http://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/371686">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.cube-experimental.de/zugangsdaten.html">Fallout 3</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_1120game4.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I confess, I never quite got into Fallout 3 myself—my counterpart, Nathan Edwards, thinks that makes me the worst gamer of all time. But if you’re like me, perhaps the total conversion “Cube Experimental” might give you a reason to click that install button one more time. And if you’re a super-fan of the game, well, you’ve already clicked on the “download” button for this extensive mod by now.</p>
<p>So what is Cube Experimental? In short, one of the most talked-about mods for Fallout 3. The general theme of the mod is that you’re stuck in the center of a giant puzzle—a cube, obviously. The goal? Find your way out. And then the real fun starts!</p>
<p>With more than 500 different scripts, brand-new voice acting, and brand-new music, this isn’t just a little series of tweaks and hacks overtop a new map. Cube Experimental is a brand-new experience in itself, and it’s worth your while to check out. I would definitely say that this mod rivals the quality of a typical DLC pack.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.cube-experimental.de/zugangsdaten.html">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.thechineseroom.co.uk/esther.html">Half-Life 2</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_1120game5.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Fresh on the heels of my “what the heck is this” recommendation of Cube Experimental for Fallout 3, I bring you Half-Life 2 fans a taste of lunacy all your own. In this case, the total conversion is called, “Dear Esther,” and it’s a complete mind-trip for those used to playing the game all normal, pew-pew-the-bad-guys style.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to really summarize this modification in words—you’ll understand once you install it for yourself. Dear Esther is more of an interactive narrative than anything else, and this modification’s excellent combination of voiceover storytelling and ingenious level design does much to weave a player through your character’s tragic tale. Many consider this mod to be one of the more unique transformations of a game ever created, and it’s frequently found at near the top of many “must-download” mod lists. Give it an install and you’ll soon see why.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.thechineseroom.co.uk/esther.html">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy</a>.&nbsp; TIE Fighter.&nbsp; A match made in heaven.&nbsp; Though he is quite thrilled to be able to play PS:T again without having to deal with an absurdly small monitor resolution.</strong></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/5_huge_game_conversions_you_must_download_right_now-645#commentsallianceappbestFalloutfilesfreefreewaregameshackHalf-Lifelistmodplanescapeplaysins of a solar empiretie fightertormentx-wingFeaturesWeb ExclusiveSun, 21 Nov 2010 16:29:08 +0000David Murphy15748 at http://www.maximumpc.com3... 2... 1, Surprise! Valve Has “Three Big Surprises” Planned for Next 12 Monthshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/3_2_1_surprise_valve_has_%E2%80%9Cthree_big_surprises%E2%80%9D_planned_next_12_months
<!--paging_filter--><p>Valve's track record with “surprises” is a bit dodgy – for every one <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/no_new_games_valve_2010_think_again_alien_swarm_released_free_steam">Alien Swarm</a>, there's a <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/e3_news_roundup_everything_you_need_know">Portal 2 on PS3</a> – but it's still hard not to get a little giddy when Valve's Gabe Newell starts throwing around the S-word. </p>
<p>"I can guarantee you people are going to be surprised at stuff we do. That isn't going to stop any time soon. I'm just laughing because... people will be shocked again," Valve boss Gabe Newell <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=262521">told PC Gamer</a>.</p>
<p>"We have three pretty big surprises in the next 12 months at least." </p>
<p>Shocked, sure, but will we also be awed, or will we roll our eyes and let out an exasperated “awww”? Knowing Valve, we're expecting the former. We've also got our fingers crossed for the most shocking Half-Life 2: Episode 3-related surprise announcement possible: “It's coming out eventually.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u46190/half-life-2-wallpaper.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="250" /></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/3_2_1_surprise_valve_has_%E2%80%9Cthree_big_surprises%E2%80%9D_planned_next_12_months#commentsGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifenewsSoftwareSoftware NewssurprisesValveGamingNewsThu, 02 Sep 2010 08:37:23 +0000Nathan Grayson14265 at http://www.maximumpc.comValve: There Won't be a Half-Life Movie Unless We're Making Ithttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/valve_there_wont_be_half-life_movie_unless_were_making_it
<!--paging_filter--><p>These days, it seems like every videogame and its Atari 2600 grandmother is getting a movie tie-in. But hey, games are awesome and so are movies, so where's the problem? Well, see, as it turns out, game movies are <em>not </em>awesome. Not in the slightest. So, is it Game Over for gaming's star on the Hollywood walk of fame? Not necessarily, says Valve's Gabe Newell. We just need to change up our approach, is all. </p>
<p>“Where we got into this direction was after Half-Life 1 had shipped. There was a whole bunch of meetings with people from Hollywood. Directors down there wanted to make a Half-Life movie and stuff, so they’d bring in a writer or some talent agency would bring in writers, and they would pitch us on their story. And their stories were just so bad. I mean, brutally, the worst. Not understanding what made the game a good game, or what made the property an interesting thing for people to be a fan of,” he <a href="http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/26/valve-want-to-make-the-half-life-movie-themselves/">explained to PC Gamer</a>. </p>
<p>“That’s when we started saying ‘Wow, the best thing we could ever do is to just not do this as a movie, or we’d have to make it ourselves.’ And I was like, ‘Make it ourselves? Well that’s impossible.’ But the Team Fortress 2 thing, the Meet The Team shorts, is us trying to explore that.”</p>
<p>And so, on this day, our dream of Jason Statham playing an illogically acrobatic, crowbar-kung-fu master Gordon Freeman – while wearing a phony beard, of course – died a quick death. We're not sure whether to be happy or incredibly depressed about that, honestly.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u46190/1102200504.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="250" /></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/valve_there_wont_be_half-life_movie_unless_were_making_it#commentsGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifemovienewsSoftwareSoftware NewsValvewhat ever happened to Uwe Boll - is he dead now?GamingNewsTue, 31 Aug 2010 07:14:59 +0000Nathan Grayson14214 at http://www.maximumpc.comValve: Don’t Expect Gordon Freeman to Speak Any Time Soonhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/valve_don%E2%80%99t_expect_gordon_freeman_speak_any_time_soon
<!--paging_filter--><div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u46190/half-life-2-wallpaper.jpg" width="415" height="250" /></div>
<p> Gordon Freeman’s a bit of an odd duck. He’s fended off aliens, won the hearts of millions, and – most mystifyingly of all – graduated from MIT, all without making a peep. In this day and age of highly cinematic videogames, though, has the idea of a “silent protagonist” worn out its welcome? Not according to Valve’s Gabe Newell. </p>
<p> &quot;We're not philosophically opposed to this, but we don't have any good reasons to do it,” <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=241221">Newell replied</a> when asked if he’d ever consider unzipping Gordon Freeman’s lips. “Right now making your companions more interesting and compelling seems a more fruitful avenue to explore.&quot;<br /> <br /> In addition, when asked if Valve has considered giving Gordon Freeman a better sense of “embodiment” – ala Mirror’s Edge – Newell stuck to his guns. </p>
<p> &quot;We haven't had a reason to change that. Most of what I've seen to date has been gimmicky and is entertaining for just a minute or so.&quot;</p>
<p> Only in videogames can one of our greatest heroes be a mute disembodied floating arm. Well, unless we’re counting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_(The_Addams_Family)">Addams Family</a>, anyway.</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/valve_don%E2%80%99t_expect_gordon_freeman_speak_any_time_soon#commentsGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifenewsSoftwareSoftware NewsValveGamingNewsWed, 07 Apr 2010 07:40:48 +0000Nathan Grayson11815 at http://www.maximumpc.comRumor: Bethesda Looking to Buy Valve? http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_bethesda_looking_buy_valve
<!--paging_filter--><div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u46190/valve-logo.jpg" width="415" height="250" /></div>
<p>If you just dropped a massive chunk of change on <a href="/article/news/id_software_acquired_zenimax_media">Doom creator id Software</a>, what would you do next? Huh? Did you just say “Buy Valve”? No? No takers? Yeah, we’re not exactly waving our hands about and shouting “called it” on this one either. But, according to the latest stink-raising <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digital-survival-article?page=2">piece of scuttlebutt</a> over at Eurogamer, Bethesda could very well be in the market for the house that Gordon Freeman built.</p>
<p> “However, it's also worth watching closely what happens to Steam in the coming months. Unconfirmed industry scuttlebutt suggests that Zenimax - the parent company of Bethesda, which made headlines back in June when it acquired legendary PC studio id Software - is still on the acquisition trail, and has been making eyes at Half-Life creators Valve across the bar,” reads the article. </p>
<p> We’ve contacted both Valve and Bethesda for comment, but so far, our questions remain unanswered. We’ll be sure to let you know if we hear more. </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_bethesda_looking_buy_valve#commentsbethesdaelder scrollsFalloutGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifenewsSoftwareSoftware NewsValveGamingNewsTue, 27 Oct 2009 04:11:29 +0000Nathan Grayson8669 at http://www.maximumpc.comThe Game Boy: From Space Invaders to Mothership Zeta – Why Videogame Aliens Suckhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/columns/game_boy_space_invaders_mothership_zeta_%E2%80%93_why_videogame_aliens_suck
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta’s opening scenes were absolutely out of this world. Within a span of ten minutes, I was torn from the Wasteland, poked and prodded with 100 haystacks’ worth of needles, stripped of the near-impregnable safety blanket I call “Power Armor,” and unceremoniously tossed into a prison cell. Upon awakening, my ragged, desperate human cellmate cowered in fear as some unknown force approached our cell, only to change course at the last second and perform its unspeakable act on some other hapless sap. The poor guy emitted a blood-curdling howl as his frail flesh clunked around in what sounded like a super-powered dryer. </p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u46190/mothershipzeta.jpg" width="415" height="226" /></div>
<p> I was absolutely thrilled. Fear, curiosity, and vulnerability hooked me. Adrenaline reeled me in. “Who are these unseen, all-powerful beings?” I wondered. “Why are they doing this?” My interest piqued when my cellmate mentioned our captors’ penchant for tampering with people’s brains. Then I actually saw them. Tiny, green, big heads, round eyes. Beaten and beamed up by God after only two strikes from my pithy 23 unarmed skill. Thrill and intrigue, it was nice knowing you.<br /> <br /> What followed was roughly four hours of good old fashioned alien-blasting. Fun, but nothing special. No mind-blowing ulterior motives, no unsettlingly foreign alien culture; the mean, green abducting machines were just a new skin for everyday Fallout 3 enemies. Really, there was nothing &quot;alien&quot; about these aliens. After such a promising opening, I felt more than a little let down. </p>
<p> Upon further thought, though, I realized that Mothership Zeta’s extraterrestrial approach simply mirrored that of nearly every sci-fi videogame since Space Invaders. See, when gamers whine about “<em>ANOTHER</em> sci-fi shooter,” they think they’re doing it because aliens, lasers, and outer-space are played-out. However, like the final frontier it so often focuses on, I think the topic of aliens in videogames could use a whole lot more exploration. We just need to approach it from a different angle, is all.</p>
<p> Since the dawn of the gaming industry, “you = good guy, alien = bad guy” has been the guiding line of thought. And what do we do to baddies? We blast ‘em, of course – no questions asked. Halo, Half-Life, Gears of War, Quake, Metroid – you name it. If it’s not of this world, we like keeping it that way. Sadly, it’s only once you start asking said questions that things get interesting. </p>
<hr />Hugely influential novel (and personal favorite) “Ender’s Game” puts forth a great example of extraterrestrial ground videogames have yet to traverse. (Note: Ender’s Game spoilers follow.) The book presents a world semi-recently ravaged by a bug-like alien species, with humanity gearing up to withstand an anticipated second trouncing by these “buggers.” Interestingly, though, the reader never actually encounters a real, exoskeleton-and-blood alien until the latter half of the book. The enemy’s unseen, with only hearsay and propaganda to fill in the blanks. Thus, curiosity propels you through the story. What’s the deal with these aliens? Why did they nearly destroy earth, only to flee when victory was at hand? Where are they now? Etc. I’d love to see this kind of masterful, mystery oriented build-up attempted in a videogame setting.
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u46190/halo3elite_0.jpg" width="415" height="217" /></div>
<p>“Dawn,” by Octavia Butler serves as further food for thought about aliens in videogames. Here, we find main character Lilith Iyapo spirited away from a devastated earth by – what else – aliens. One major problem, though: these aliens are about as far from human as one can get. Little green men these ain’t. Instead, these things are practically made of creepy crawly tentacles, swap genetic information and meld with whatever species they come by, and can be any one of three genders. They are, to put it mildly, hideous, by human standards. Their very existence is an affront to ours. The whole book, then, is about integration with a truly otherworldly culture. What I think games could take away from this isn’t necessarily a totally non-violent alien-based game, but rather, the notion of a world completely unlike our own. Too many games depict aliens and alien cultures as humans with funny skin colors and human-like sets of value to match. </p>
<p> In this respect, I see ACE Team’s Zeno Clash as a step in the right direction – at least, as far as creating a totally foreign, yet shockingly believable world goes. Between the curvy, organic-looking aesthetic, inhuman characters, and oddball philosophy behind it all, Zeno Clash was not a typical first-person videogame. It pulled off its shtick so convincingly, in fact, that multiple people told me that the game scared them, despite the fact that nothing explicitly “scary” ever happens in the game. Why? Because it’s different. Just as non-humanoid creatures like spiders and scorpions unsettle us, so to do utterly strange worlds. </p>
<p> My ideas, of course, are only the tip of a very large iceberg. So, how about you? How would you like to see aliens and other such sci-fi themes handled in modern videogames? </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/columns/game_boy_space_invaders_mothership_zeta_%E2%80%93_why_videogame_aliens_suck#commentscolumnsfallout 3GamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifehaloquakeSoftwareGamingColumnsWed, 05 Aug 2009 19:34:24 +0000Nathan Grayson7298 at http://www.maximumpc.comNew Half-Life Remake Trailer Looks Freaking Incrediblehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/new_halflife_remake_trailer_looks_freaking_incredible
<!--paging_filter--><div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u46190/1102200504.jpg" width="415" height="250" /></div>
<p>Black Mesa, a Source engine recreation of the original Half-Life, has sported an unwavering &quot;in development&quot; status for the past four years. After a while, we just started lumping it in with Duke Nukem Forever, Alan Wake, and the apocalypse as signs that God does exist -- but that He's one hell of a procrastinator. After checking out the <a href="http://blackmesasource.com/">latest Black Mesa trailer</a>, though, we're belting out a different tune. Or at least, we're trying. The cascading tidal waves of drool blasting out of our mouths -- fire-hose style -- make it kind of difficult. </p>
<p> Fortunately, the mod will apparently scale the walls of development hell within our feeble lifetimes. According to a post on the official site for the unofficial remake, &quot;the days this mod stays in development are truly numbered. Hang tight, because at long last, it is coming.&quot;</p>
<p> And then they prompt readers to <a href="http://blackmesasource.com/">GO WATCH THE TRAILER NOW</a>. Which we think is a pretty good idea. </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/new_halflife_remake_trailer_looks_freaking_incredible#commentsGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-LifemodsnewsSoftwareSoftware NewsValveGamingNewsTue, 02 Dec 2008 04:57:32 +0000Nathan Grayson4422 at http://www.maximumpc.comHappy 10th Birthday to Half-Life!http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/happy_10th_birthday_halflife
<!--paging_filter--><div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u58308/HalfLife_Birthday.jpg" width="415" height="296" /></div>
<p>That’s right Valve faithful, just this week Gordon Freeman <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/70/">celebrated</a> his valiant service at the Black Mesa Research Facility for the <a href="http://www.moddb.com/features/10-years-of-half-life">10th time</a>. That’s a whole decade of butt that Mr. Freeman has been kicking, and he’s opened up the door for tons of other great games.</p>
<p> It was the release of Half-Life that really put Valve on the map, and the video gamer’s world is a better place because of it. Games like Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, Team Fotress (2!), Natural Selection and Left 4 Dead have all come out thanks to Half-Life's humble beginnings. If it weren’t for the release of Half-Life 2 and the extremely flexible and stable Source engine, much of the landscape that we all love to shoot up from the first person wouldn’t be here today.</p>
<p> So give your best wishes to all the fine folks at Valve that have kept a strong decade of gaming alive. Without them, without Steam, without Gordon, we wouldn’t be spending so many countless hours (well, counted on our <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/groups/maxpc">Steam profile</a> pages) <a href="/article/reviews/exclusive_review_left_4_dead">blowing out zombie brains</a> and cursing those <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29RE0blCV84">clever Spies</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: xx-small"><span style="font-size: xx-small">Image Credit: Valve </span></span></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/happy_10th_birthday_halflife#commentscounter-strikeGamingGaming SoftwareHalf-Lifeleft 4 deadSoftwareSoftware Newsteam fortressValveNewsFri, 21 Nov 2008 23:10:14 +0000Andy Salisbury4346 at http://www.maximumpc.comValve's Steam Cloud will Keep Your Savegames Foreverhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/valves_steam_cloud_will_keep_your_savegames_forever
<!--paging_filter--><p>
Valve announced today that Steam Cloud will be the next major update for the digital distribution service, allowing gamers to store not only their profiles and key bindings online, but also all of their savegames created through Steamworks-supported applications. </p>
<p>Steam has had 114 client updates since their launch in 2003, but the biggest one is yet to come. Steam Cloud is Valve’s plan to further engage PC gamers with their games, and is one more step to Steam becoming the core of the PC gaming experience. </p>
<p>Community enhancements include improved event planning – RSVP, calendar functions, and official communities are all part of the feature list. Gamers will be able to coordinate tournaments, use calendars to check up on their friends, and join communities set up by game publishers and developers. </p>
<p>The biggest news is that game-generated data will now be stored with your Steam accounts in Valve servers. This includes game profiles, configuration settings, and even savegames! Valve will first be rolling this feature out to existing games like the Half-Life franchise, TF2, Counter-Strike. Left4Dead will be the first new game to remotely save your progress. </p>
<p>This system will be completely transparent to the user. The files cache locally, and will upload when Steam detects an internet connection. There will be no restrictions on users – no save quotas or file management – the system will “just work.” </p>
<p>Any Steamwork game will be able to support these features, and it’ll be FREE for customers and developers. Steam Cloud is set to launch in the “near future.” </p>
<p>The next step is enabling the system to save other types of game-data remotely, including deathcam screenshots in TF2 and game demo recordings of your online matches. Other possible updates may include user-created annotations in-game (similar to the commentary tracks in Portal and Half-Life 2) that gamers can use to share gameplay strategies.
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<p>
Steam will also deliver automatic driver-updates for hardware and integrate a system requirements checker for games (which will provide useful feedback to gamers), which developers can also incorporate with the Steamworks development suite.
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<p>
Valve also announced that &quot;Meet the Sniper&quot; will be the next Team Fortress 2 video.
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http://www.maximumpc.com/article/valves_steam_cloud_will_keep_your_savegames_forever#commentsGamingHalf-LifenewsSteamteam fortress 2ValveGamingNewsThu, 29 May 2008 23:24:02 +0000Norman Chan2217 at http://www.maximumpc.comNo BS Podcast #38: The Hard Drive Editionhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/no_bs_podcast_38_the_hard_drive_edition
<!--paging_filter--><p>
<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=213247824"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/podcastlogo-transparent.png" width="240" height="233" align="right" /></a>This week, Will, Gordon, Dave, and Jeremy discuss. This week, the gang talks about
</p>
<ul>
<li>Solid state hard drives and Alienware</li>
<li>Patent problems with hard drive tech</li>
<li>Intel's new high-end X38 chipset</li>
<li>EA's purchase of Pandemic and Bioware </li>
</ul>
<p>
We also celebrate the return of Will, give updates on some new contests, and go into the Lab to discuss The Orange Box and MAME cabinets.
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<p>
Do you have a tech question? A comment? Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our No BS Podcast hotline at <strong>877.404.1337 x1337. </strong>Also, get your game on with the editors of Maximum PC by joining our<a href="http://steamcommunity.com/groups/maxpc"> Steam group!</a>
</p>
<p>
Modders, be sure to check out <a href="http://modshop.net/">Mod Shop</a>: submit and vote on the coolest mods around—and win prizes!
</p>
<p>
Subscribe: <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337">http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337 <br />
</a>
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://dl.maximumpc.com/maxpc_038_20071012.mp3"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/rss-audiomp3.png" width="80" height="15" /> </a><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/chicklet_rss-2_0.png" alt="chicklet_rss-2.0.png" title="chicklet_rss-2.0.png" width="80" height="15" /></a> <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=213247824"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/chicklet_itunes.gif" alt="chicklet_itunes.gif" title="chicklet_itunes.gif" width="80" height="15" /></a> <a href="http://odeo.com/listen/subscribe?feed=http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/chicklet_odeo_pink_0.gif" alt="badge-channel-pink.gif" title="badge-channel-pink.gif" width="80" height="15" /></a> <a href="http://digg.com/podcasts/Maximum_PC_s_No_BS_Podcast_2"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/80x15-digg-badge.png" width="80" height="15" /></a>
</p>
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http://www.maximumpc.com/article/no_bs_podcast_38_the_hard_drive_edition#commentsHalf-LifeintelNo BSorange boxpenrynPodcastportalNewsNo BS PodcastFri, 12 Oct 2007 23:00:13 +0000Maximum PC Staff1483 at http://www.maximumpc.comModspiration: What I Did On My Summer Vacationhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/modspiration_what_i_did_on_my_summer_vacation
<!--paging_filter--><p class="MsoNormal">Of all of the things required to execute a great mod, inspiration is often the hardest to come by.<span> </span>Let’s face it – thousands of mods have been done on what is basically the same box.<span> </span>Being original requires a bit of real inspiration under that condition.<span> </span>But, inspiration cannot be bought or learned, and even generous souls can’t hand out any extra they may have.<span> </span>Newegg doth not have packages of five for sale.<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I cannot give any inspiration out – I can share how I received my latest batch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For me, inspiration is easiest to find in places I rarely visit.<span> </span>Places like museums, strange towns, and the eye doctor.<span> </span>So I packed my bags and headed out to the Pacific Northwest coast for some sand, sea, and Sun.<span> </span>Well, maybe just sand and sea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/MB_bandon1.jpg" width="450" height="209" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I love fog and mist.<span> </span>They clear the mind for me.<span> </span><span> </span>And, they have the added benefit of being eerie (always a plus).<span> </span>But, site seeing only goes so far (especially in the fog)– so I had to build! Of course, vacation rule #17 (no working on computers during vacation) kinda got in my way. But, ever undaunted - I pushed forward.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/MB_bandon2.jpg" width="450" height="324" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Title: Half-Life BC.<span> </span>Medium: sticks and stone.<span> </span>Unfortunately, I lack the skills required to make an extensive prehistoric Half-Life game mod.<span> </span>So I moved on...after disassembling it so it couldn’t fire on me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/MB_bandon3.jpg" width="450" height="213" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the CaveSys 54g.<span> </span>No mancave is complete without one!<span> </span>It never drops a connection (that would require having one).<span> </span>Peripherals are often overlooked modding subjects.<span> </span>That’s inspiration right there!<span> </span>Too many mods stop at the box and maybe mouse and keyboard.<span> </span>Why not mod the router and modem?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/MB_Bandon.jpg" width="250" height="161" align="right" />Behold…The iStone Nano (right)!<span> </span>Coming in at about the size of a quarter, all one has to do to hear their favorite tune is click the two stones together.<span> </span>Best of all, no DRM and all the music is free!<span> </span>And this thing has volume!<span> </span>Unlike Apple, I didn’t go for ear buds or shy from making noise – this one plays out load.<span> </span>Your co-workers <em>WILL</em> hear this – for hours on end.<span> </span>You can “rock” the house out!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/MB_bandon5.jpg" width="450" height="325" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is my greatest discovery and inspiration! <span> </span>I call it the iPhish.<span> </span>Sure, laugh.<span> </span>Point out that while it has some interesting features, it’s not much of a fish.<span> </span>Of course, the iPhone….well, I’ll leave that to the other bloggers.<span> </span>I could see a router hidden inside a model of one of these.<span> </span>That would be cool! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NOTE: Do not put live iPhish up to ear (trust me on that one).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So it may be my inspirations are a bit odd. Then again, the most inspired mods I've ever seen seem to be a bit odd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next week I will be attempting to upholster part of a computer.<span> </span>This should be interesting – as I have never done it before.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Till then, Happy Modding!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This week’s bit of bling comes <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeCincQabGg">via YouTube via Paul Capello via The Best Case Scenario</a>.<span> </span>Turn it up! </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/modspiration_what_i_did_on_my_summer_vacation#commentsHalf-LifeHardwaremoddingMod_BlogRouterNewsModdingSat, 25 Aug 2007 01:22:07 +0000Chris Adcock1333 at http://www.maximumpc.comBlack Box Cancellation Won't Affect ATI Bundlehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/black_box_cancellation_wont_affect_ati_bundle
<!--paging_filter--><p>As you’ve probably heard, Valve has <a href="http://www.gamesradar.com/us/pc/game/news/article.jsp?sectionId=1006&amp;articleId=20070521173244933082&amp;releaseId=2006022216628546001">canceled</a> Half-Life 2 Black Box, which would have contained Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. In its place, Valve will be selling the more-expensive ($50) Orange Box, which comes with those games plus Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One.</p>
<p>Our immediate question was how does this impact AMD, which is bundling coupons for the Black Box with every one of its <a href="/article/ati_radeon_hd_2900_xt_benchmarks">ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT</a> cards? The short answer is it doesn’t: Although the Black Box won’t be available as a stand-alone purchase, ATI buyers will still get the three games they’ve been promised. </p>
<p>What’s more, Valve’s director of marketing, Doug Lombardi, tells us those buying cards based on AMD’s new graphics chip shouldn’t wait for those games to become available prior to registering their product keys on <a href="http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php">Steam</a>. “While they wait for the release of the three new games, Day of Defeat: Source is made available to them immediately upon registering the product code that comes in the box with their new videocard.” </p>
<p><a href="http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&amp;AppId=300&amp;cc=US">Day of Defeat: Source</a> is an additional $20 value—assuming, of course, that you don’t already own it. That’s always been the downside to game bundles, which is why I found it refreshing that AMD is bundling brand-new games with its top-end Radeon card. </p>
<p>Valve’s decision to force gamers to buy games they almost certainly already own in order to get boxed copies of <em>new </em>software is a whole other matter. My guess is that retailers objected to stocking two SKUs, so Valve decided to drop the cheaper package. In any event, you’ll still be able to buy the three new titles separately on Steam—provided you can live without the boxes. If you can&#39;t, the product codes for Half-Life 2 and Episode One would make a great gift. </p>
<p>Hmm, I wonder if the Orange Box will arrive in time for Father&#39;s Day? </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/black_box_cancellation_wont_affect_ati_bundle#commentsamdatiHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2videocardNewsEditor BlogsTue, 22 May 2007 17:31:54 +0000Michael Brown1046 at http://www.maximumpc.com